New commercial vehicle registrations for Class 3 through Class 8 trucks increased nearly 14% for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same time a year ago, according to a new report by the vehicle industry research firm IHS Automotive.

The total value of shipments in the heavy-duty truck manufacturing business have increased the most of three vehicle classes over the past five-years, according to new 2012 Economic Census statistics released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Daimler Trucks North America mapped out its goals in the Class 6,7, and 8 markets, as well as its goal to increase the company's market share in the vocational market at its annual press event in Northern California.

The freight transportation forecasting firm FTR has released preliminary data showing June 2014 North American Class 8 truck net orders at 26,255 units, an impressive 41% year-over-year increase and the best June since 2005.

New York has updated its list of trucks that are eligible under its Voucher Incentive Program, a $19 million “first come, first served” program that aims to accelerate the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and diesel emission control devices for medium to heavy duty commercial fleets in the state.

Expanding the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel and greater use of aerodynamic devices on trailers are among the strategies recommended by a new National Research Council report for reducing fuel consumption by tractor-trailers, transit buses, commercial vehicles, trucks, and other medium and heavy-duty vehicles.

New orders for Class 8 trucks in February increased 30% from the same time a year earlier while Classes 5-7 gained 18%, according to updated numbers from commercial vehicle industry data publisher ACT Research.

The nation’s largest group of truckers is speaking out against President Obama’s Tuesday announcement ordering federal regulators to increase fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for trucks beyond the 2018 model year. Others say the plan will pay dividends in the trucking industry.

Rush Enterprises, which operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America, reported record annual revenues of $3.4 billion in 2013 compared to $3.1 billion in 2012, while net profit slid to $49.2 million compared to $$62.5 million a year earlier.

Navistar International won both categories in the American Truck Dealers’ 2014 Commercial Truck of the Year competition with its ProStar heavy duty and TerraStar medium-duty models. ATD announced the winners at a lunch on Sunday, during its joint annual convention with the National Automobile Dealers Association in New Orleans. The trucks were among three heavy and four medium-duty models submitted by manufacturers for judging last fall.

December was the second biggest Class 8 order month since March 2006, with orders up roughly 50% month-over-month and year-over-year. Meanwhile, medium-duty December net orders fell month-over-month; but year-over-year orders were mixed, with Classes 6 to 7 rising 20% and Class 5 orders falling 16% against tough comparisons.